CoSN announces dynamic keynote lineup and highlighted session topics for 13th annual conference
Primary Topic Channel: CoSN
Washington, DC - January 3, 2008 - Prominent experts and thought leaders from the education technology community are part of the dynamic keynote lineup for Visionary Leadership: Scaffolding 21st Century Learning with Technology, the Consortium for School Networking's (CoSN) upcoming 13th Annual Conference, which will be held in Washington, DC, from March 9-11, 2008. In addition to keynote speeches, attendees will experience a series of informative sessions led by renowned education experts.
"Our 2008 keynote and highlighted session speakers are collectively some of the most respected and 'out-of-the-box' thinkers in the education community," said Bridget Foster, Co-Chair of CoSN's Conference and Events Planning Committee. "Each speaker has in-depth knowledge and innovative insights about how to leverage education technologies to enhance the learning process and prepare students with the 21st century skills they need to succeed in lifelong learning."
More than 1,100 U.S. and international education technology leaders participating in the conference will have an opportunity to attend a keynote discussion on Monday, March 10, titled "21st Century Learning: Embedding New Skills and Assessments," with Andreas Schleicher, Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division for the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED) and Richard Hersh, PhD, Co-Director, CLA and CWRA Projects, Council for Aid to Education and Former President, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Trinity College. The session will be moderated by Chris Dede, EdD, Timothy E. Wirth Professor of Learning Technologies, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University.
On Tuesday, March 11, best-selling author of A Whole New Mind and expert on innovation and competitiveness Daniel Pink, will deliver a keynote address on "New Skills for the Whole New Mind." Pink will discuss his thoughts on the future of education and the workforce, and will share how his vision for 21st century learning parallels or differs from the Framework for 21st Century Skills developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
Concurrent highlighted sessions will examine top trends and issues in education technology, ranging from "Identifying and Measuring the Value of 21st Century Skills" and "Spotlight in Assessment and 21st Century Skills: Moving Beyond AYP" to the "Great Cell Phone Debate: 'On' or 'Off' in K-12" and "Using Immersive Realities for Professional Development." Other sessions will examine how technologies can be leveraged to create a 21st century collaborative environment and how inexpensive lightweight, portable devices can be used in the classroom to enhance learning, among additional topics. The sessions are sponsored by a number leading education technology companies and organizations, including:
Platinum: Cisco Systems, Inc., Dell, Gartner, Inc., SAFARI Montage/Library Video Company and SAS
Gold: IBM and Pearson
Silver: Absolute Software Corporation, AT&T, HP, Microsoft Corporation, Mitel Networks Corporation, SchoolDude.com, SMART Technologies, Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated and Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.
"For conference attendees who are interested in exploring specific aspects of the overarching 21st century learning theme in depth, the highlighted sessions will offer an opportunity to hone in on these topics and discuss them in greater detail," said Foster. "We know that these sessions will be an invaluable experience for educators in attendance, we thank our 16 corporate sponsors in advance for hosting them."
For more information about the keynote speakers and highlighted sessions, please visit the official conference Web site: http://www.k12schoolnetworking.org/2008/
"Our 2008 keynote and highlighted session speakers are collectively some of the most respected and 'out-of-the-box' thinkers in the education community," said Bridget Foster, Co-Chair of CoSN's Conference and Events Planning Committee. "Each speaker has in-depth knowledge and innovative insights about how to leverage education technologies to enhance the learning process and prepare students with the 21st century skills they need to succeed in lifelong learning."
More than 1,100 U.S. and international education technology leaders participating in the conference will have an opportunity to attend a keynote discussion on Monday, March 10, titled "21st Century Learning: Embedding New Skills and Assessments," with Andreas Schleicher, Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division for the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED) and Richard Hersh, PhD, Co-Director, CLA and CWRA Projects, Council for Aid to Education and Former President, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Trinity College. The session will be moderated by Chris Dede, EdD, Timothy E. Wirth Professor of Learning Technologies, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University.
On Tuesday, March 11, best-selling author of A Whole New Mind and expert on innovation and competitiveness Daniel Pink, will deliver a keynote address on "New Skills for the Whole New Mind." Pink will discuss his thoughts on the future of education and the workforce, and will share how his vision for 21st century learning parallels or differs from the Framework for 21st Century Skills developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
Concurrent highlighted sessions will examine top trends and issues in education technology, ranging from "Identifying and Measuring the Value of 21st Century Skills" and "Spotlight in Assessment and 21st Century Skills: Moving Beyond AYP" to the "Great Cell Phone Debate: 'On' or 'Off' in K-12" and "Using Immersive Realities for Professional Development." Other sessions will examine how technologies can be leveraged to create a 21st century collaborative environment and how inexpensive lightweight, portable devices can be used in the classroom to enhance learning, among additional topics. The sessions are sponsored by a number leading education technology companies and organizations, including:
Platinum: Cisco Systems, Inc., Dell, Gartner, Inc., SAFARI Montage/Library Video Company and SAS
Gold: IBM and Pearson
Silver: Absolute Software Corporation, AT&T, HP, Microsoft Corporation, Mitel Networks Corporation, SchoolDude.com, SMART Technologies, Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated and Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.
"For conference attendees who are interested in exploring specific aspects of the overarching 21st century learning theme in depth, the highlighted sessions will offer an opportunity to hone in on these topics and discuss them in greater detail," said Foster. "We know that these sessions will be an invaluable experience for educators in attendance, we thank our 16 corporate sponsors in advance for hosting them."
For more information about the keynote speakers and highlighted sessions, please visit the official conference Web site: http://www.k12schoolnetworking.org/2008/
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Graduates who enter the workplace with a solid grasp of 21st-century skills bring value to both the workplace and global marketplace.
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Visit the following special content centers, and discover how technology is helping educators every day.
Securing Student Laptops for Safe Learning
New software makes it possible for companies to activate web-based communication with laptops, tracking their position and having them returned if they are stolen.
Preparing for a Pandemic
With fears about the H1N1 virus, commonly known as "swine flu," putting school leaders on high alert, we've compiled this collection of news stories and additional resources to keep you up to date on the latest developments in this critical story--and to help you deal with the crisis in your own schools.
Igniting and Sustaining STEM Education
As the workplace changes and becomes increasingly global, today's students must be educated with a 21st-century mindset.
Online Learning
Thousands of K-12 schools across the nation are turning to online-learning providers for help with credit recovery, enrichment opportunities for gifted students, and for providing core curriculum classes in areas where there isn't enough demand to justify keeping a teacher on staff.
Successful Video Production
Knowing how to produce, edit, and distribute video gives high school and college graduates a valuable and much-in-demand skill.
Anytime, Anywhere Professional Development
When teachers are confident in the curriculum they teach, students will become more engaged in lessons and will learn more.
Measuring 21st-century skills
Graduates who enter the workplace with a solid grasp of 21st-century skills bring value to both the workplace and global marketplace.
Meeting the Needs of Students with Autism
It's estimated that one out of every 150 children in the United States has some form of autism, and that number is escalating at a frightening pace.
Stimulating Achievement: Your Guide to Ed Funding
Learn how to make wise spending decisions and keep track of school needs as stimulus funds become available.
Placing Reading Power in Students' Hands
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